(CBC)

Despite recent testimony from Rick Hillier, the former chief of defence staff, and other top generals before a parliamentary committee, the majority of Canadians believe that some prisoners who were handed to Afghan authorities by the military were tortured, according to a new EKOS poll.

Among this group, 83 per cent believe the government was aware there was a strong possibility that prisoners would be tortured.

This opinion is consistent across all gender, age groups and regions. The belief that torture occurred is highest among NDP (71 per cent), Green Party (71 per cent), and Bloc (77 per cent) supporters as well as people in B.C. and Quebec.

Only Conservative supporters are slightly less likely to believe that the government was aware that prisoners might be tortured. Even so, nearly 68 per cent of Conservative supporters think the government was aware of that possibility.

People with university level education are also more likely to believe that torture occurred compared with those with high school or less education. Those born in Canada are more likely to believe that it occurred than those born outside the country.

In terms of the government's level of transparency and disclosure regarding the alleged torture of prisoners, more Canadians are dissatisfied than satisfied.

Forty-one per cent of Canadians say they are dissatisfied while 24 per cent are satisfied. Just over 35 per cent have no opinion or are waiting to draw conclusions at this time.

While Conservative supporters are more satisfied than dissatisfied with the government's transparency and disclosure around the issue, supporters of all other parties are more dissatisfied.

Despite President Barack Obama's recent announcement on sending additional American troops to Afghanistan, the majority of Canadians (52 per cent) oppose extending Canada's mission in that country.

This is consistent across all party supporters with the exception of the Conservatives who provide higher levels of support (46 per cent) for extending Canada's mission in Afghanistan if the Americans ask for our help.

Those living in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are more likely than other regions to say they support extending Canada's mission in Afghanistan.

Women are more likely to oppose (55 per cent) extending Canada's mission in Afghanistan as are younger Canadians under 25 years old (58 per cent).

Conservative support dips slightly

Meanwhile, support for the Conservatives has softened somewhat, moving them out of majority territory. This week's poll pegs support for the Conservatives at 35.6 per cent, down by more than one percentage point since the last survey on Nov. 26.

The decline in support for the Conservatives has not resulted in higher support for the Liberals. However, the gap between the two parties has narrowed to nine percentage points. The gap was as high as 15 percentage points in early October, when the Liberals were threatening an election.

Support for the Liberals is at 26.5 per cent, consistent with the last poll. Support for the NDP is up slightly at 16.7 per cent, while support for the Green Party has also been trending up and is currently at 11.3 per cent.

EKOS conducted the poll from Dec. 2 to Dec. 8, 2009, surveying 2,388 Canadians from across the country over the age of 18.

The margin of error associated with the survey is plus or minus two percentage points, 19 times out of 20.